Turkey clamps down on arms transit routes to Libya and Sudan

Turkey has introduced stricter controls on the transit of military-related goods through its territory to curb illicit arms flows linked to conflicts in Libya and Sudan, according to the Middle East Eye and agencies on March 18th.

The updated regulations were published in Turkey’s Official Gazette, the Turkish government’s official publication for laws and regulations, on March 17th and introduced tighter oversight of shipments passing through Turkish ports and airspace.

The measures focus on routes used to move weapons into conflict zones where direct transfers are restricted, including Libya and Sudan, where fighting and the presence of armed groups persist.

Arms dealers have sought to use Turkey to move weapons from Eastern Europe and the Balkans into the region, with suppliers unable to ship directly to Libya or Sudan instead sending shipments via Turkish ports and border crossings.

UN Security Council Panel of Experts reports have identified Eastern Europe as a source of weapons flows into Libya, with transfers carried out by air and sea despite a UN arms embargo.

The reports documented shipments including fighter aircraft, helicopters and ammunition. They said that the shipments were often facilitated through intermediary countries, including transit points in Turkey.

Investigations found that falsified end-user certificates were used to obscure the final destination of the weapons.

An Amnesty International report also identified foreign-made weapons in Sudan, including Eastern European small arms such as Serbian rifles, highlighting the use of indirect routes to facilitate their transfer.

The new regulations are intended to prevent such practices by tightening controls on documentation and monitoring cargo movements.

Libya has remained a focal point for arms trafficking since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, despite a UN arms embargo. Rival factions continue to rely on external support.

Sudan has also seen continued weapons flows amid fighting between rival military factions, with authorities reporting interceptions of military equipment, including drones and electronic jamming devices, along routes linking Libya to western Sudan.

Turkey said the updated rules form part of the country’s broader efforts to align with international non-proliferation frameworks and limit the risk of illicit transfers contributing to regional conflicts.

Middle East Eye and agencies, Amnesty International, United Nations, The Libya Gazette, Maghrebi.org